Ham, Simpson and Smith lead way to Brevard victories over Battlers

February 12, 2011

Tornados win both games of the doubleheader, 5-1, 5-1

Brevard, N.C. - Derek Ham went four for six and drove in three runs and BC starting pitchers Zack Simpson and Casey Smith both won their first games on the mound as the Tornados swept the Saturday doubleheader over visiting Alderson-Broaddus at Gil Coan Field, 5-1 and 5-1.

Brevard improves to 2-3 on the season, while the Battlers fall to 0-2.

Ham was a perfect three for three from the plate, driving in three and Zack Simpson threw his first collegiate complete game, scattering five hits over seven innings as the Tornados took the first game against the Battlers.

Brevard struck first in game one, tallying four runs in the bottom of the second inning off Alderson-Broaddus starter, Derek Patsy (0-1). Zack Merriken drew a leadoff walk and back-to-back singles by Randy O’Dell and Christian Christopoulos loaded the bases with zero outs. Ron Patterson hit a sacrifice fly to straightaway centerfield to score Merrikan for the first run of the game. After Brett Brinson was hit by a pitch, Derek Ham singled to right field, bringing home O’Dell and Christopoulos to give the Tornados the 3-0 advantage. Kameron Armacost drove home the final run of the inning with a bunt to the first baseman, scoring Brinson from third.

Alderson-Broaddus answered in the top of the third as Nick Canterbury led off the inning with a base hit up the middle. A sacrifice bunt by Mitch Roy moved him into scoring position and Canterbury scored two batters later as Bobby McLaughlin’s base hit down the third baseline narrowly missed the bag and stayed in fair territory, plated the Battlers first run of the game.

After several scoreless innings, the Tornados added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Patterson reached on a two-out single to centerfield. Brinson’s base hit through the left side moved Patterson into scoring position and Ham followed with a line drive up the middle, scoring Patterson to put Brevard up 5-1.

Alderson-Broaddus threatened in the top of the seventh as Justin Combs reached on a two-out fielder’s choice. Canterbury followed with a double down the right field line, moving Combs to third, but Simpson escaped the jam and closed out the game by retiring Roy on a popup to Christopoulos in short centerfield to end the game.

Simpson (1-0) finished the game with three strikeouts to record his first collegiate win of his BC career.

Ethan Pressley had a pair of RBIs and Brinson cross the plate twice to support Casey Smith (1-1) as the junior right-hander struck out four in five innings to record his first win in the 2011 season.

The Battlers opened the scoring with a tally in the top of the third. Canterbury reached on a fielding error by the Tornados shortstop in the contest and came around to score as Roy hit a two-out double down the right field line to put Alderson-Broaddus up 1-0.

The Tornados answered with a pair in the bottom half of the inning. Christopoulos drew a walk to lead off the inning and made it to third as the Battlers’ third baseman misplayed Brinson’s sharp grounder and overthrew the second baseman to give Brevard a man in scoring position. Armacost drove Christopoulos home with a base hit through the right side of the infield to even the game at one. Following a sacrifice bunt by Ham, Pressley reached on a fielder’s choice as Justin Anderson’s throw home was too late to catch Brinson to put Brevard up 2-1. The Tornados would continue to threaten, but the inning ended as Merriken went down swinging and Armacost was thrown out trying to take home on a double steal.

Brevard put another run across in the fifth as Christopoulos and Brinson led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Following a BC strikeout, both runners advanced on a double steal as the Tornados threatened to open up the game. However, Brevard was only able to push one across as Pressley hit a sharp grounder up the middle, scoring Brinson as the Tornados went up 3-1.

Brevard added two more insurance runs in the sixth as both Clark and Patterson came around to score, pushing the lead to 5-1.

Kevin Hamilton and Jacob White both pitched scoreless innings in relief for Brevard as the Tornados closed out the game as White retired Bryan with a strikeout as Brevard swept the weekend doubleheader over the visiting Battlers.

The Tornados continue the series against Alderson-Broaddus on Sunday, February 13th, at Gil Coan Field. First pitch of the final game of the three-game set is set for 1 p.m.